3-18-2006

I have re-recorded most of the theatre pieces live using good quality condenser microphones. The point is to show that there is significantly less distortion when the eight ranks of this theatre organ mix their sounds in the air, not digitally in the computer.

This is one of the advantages of Hauptwerk 2---the ability to use multiple sound cards, each with multiple channels. In this case, each of the eight ranks goes to its own stereo channel, resulting in a sixteen-speaker system. I'm using two M-Audio 1010LT cards in the Gateway Athlon dual core 4200+ computer running 32-bit MS WIN XP. The Virginia Theatre organ is set to full stereo in 16-bit resolution and fits in the 3 GB RAM (of which ~2 GB is actually available).

The mp3 recordings are done in 256 bits per second to retain more of the higher quality of the live sound. In my opinion, there is indeed a very noticeable increase in clarity of sound, especially in loud, complex passages.

3-10-2006

Some hymns have been posted. These beautiful arrangements are by Antony Baldwin from his album for organ, "Final Flourishes." In my midi versions, I've started each piece with the straight WurliTzer without trems. Then about half way through the tremulants are added. I find I really enjoy playing hymns on this little 8-rank theatre organ!

2-20-2006

I am now beginning to work up some theatre midi's of my own, based on scores from sheet music and various albums. These arrangements are simple enough for even me to play, for the most part.  I will list the theatre organist responsible for the arrangement, where possible.

2-18-2006

As is the case with the other Hauptwerk pages on my website, this organ page is an experiment to try out the sounds of the Hauptwerk 2 and Virginia Theatre's 1921 WurliTzer Theatre Organ-Opus 490. The website for Hauptwerk 2 is Crumhorn Labs. The Virtual Theatre Organ comes from Milan Digital Audio.
Though Hauptwerk 2 is optimized for a 64-bit operating system, I'm running it here on MS-WIN XP 32-bit and getting fine results.

2-18-2006

Here are some Theatre-Organ mp3's.  They are all from the excellent web pages of Edonmusic and Eugene Hayek and are presented with his gracious permission:

(more mp3's to come)
 

Edelweiss_.mp3 - 2-20-2006 (Arr: Rosemary Bailey)

Girl_From_Ipanema - 2-25-2006 (Arr: Glenn Derringer)

Hymn__Darwall's_148th - 3-10-2006 (Arr: Antony Baldwin)

Hymn__Duke_Street - 3-10-2006 (Arr: Antony Baldwin)

Hymn__Ebenezer - 3-10-2006 (Arr: Antony Baldwin)

Hymn__Ein'_Feste_Burg - 3-10-2006 (Arr: Antony Baldwin)

Hymn__Ellacombe - 3-11-2006  (Arr: Antony Baldwin)

Laura_.mp3 - 2-23-2006 (Arr: Jesse Crawford)

Red_Sails_In_The_Sunset_.mp3 - 2-20-2006 (Arr: Ralph Wolf)

We've_Only_Just_Begun_.mp3 - 2-21-2006 (Arr: Hal Vincent)

Londonderry_Air_(Oh_Danny_Boy).mp3 - 2-18-2006

Grandfather's_Clock.mp3 - 2-18-2006

Somebody_Loves_You.mp3 - 2-19-2006

Sweetheart_Of_Sigma_Chi.mp3 - 2-18-2006